OK, useful tip no1, asking someone to "Show us yer map of Tassie" will not, as you may expect, assist you in your efforts at navigation, it will probably get you slapped.

Tip No2, it's cold in the winter! Well der anyone could have thought of that, I guess, we knew it would be cool but I've always had the impression that Australia, as a whole, was a warm place. I think it must be something to do with all the documentaries of people running around in the desert chasing crocodiles and snakes or whatever. I never thought about Tasmania, why would I, but it's far enough south to have a climate exactly the same as the UK. Now it's getting on for winter and it's not hot.

Tip No3, don't bring any fruit or veg with you. They didn't mention this when we booked our ferry tickets so we stocked up the campervan with food, the only thing we got through quarantine with was three carrots.

Anyway it is a very beautiful place. Lots of places are named after towns in Devon and you can see why, some of it's the same, except for the foot and mouth and Mr Whippy ice cream vans of course. The mountains are amazing, I'd love to come back in the summer months and do some of the walks. It's a shame they don't have any ski resorts.

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